DO NOT HIRE - Absolute Disaster
Summary:
Needed 90 ft of coving installed and 380 sq ft of self-leveling concrete poured--Denis quoted $3,710 for the job.
Red flag #1: Demanded payment before work even started.
Red flag #2: Didn't include materials--I had to source everything and deliver it myself.
Red flag #3: The job was rushed, disorganized, and completely botched.
End result: I had to repurchase all materials, redo the entire floor, and delay my business opening by over a week.
The Full Horror Show:
At first, things seemed fine. The coving went in without major issues.
Then came the real disaster: the self-leveling concrete pour.
Denis underestimated the amount of material needed--he asked for 20 bags, I bought 25 to be safe, and even that wasn't enough. Halfway through the pour, his crew discovered a void in the slab that started swallowing concrete. Instead of stopping to reassess, they just kept pouring--on top of an already failed section.
And then--hours later--Denis suddenly realized they needed more concrete.
Self-leveling concrete sets in under an hour, yet he expected me to drop everything and drive over an hour, across four cities, to buy more.
His crew scraped buckets, added extra water, and tried to "stretch" the mix--which completely ruined the pour. Denis still pressured me to pay immediately.
The Next Day: A Total Train Wreck
I walked in, and my heart sank.
The floor was uneven, lumpy, and streaked with discoloration.
It wasn't even high enough to meet the coving--a major health code violation.
The entire floor had to be redone.
Denis agreed to redo it, but only after an uncomfortable back-and-forth. I had to spend another $1,000 on materials (he asked for 10 bags--I bought 25 again to avoid more excuses).
Round Two: Still a Failure
His crew showed up shocked at the amount of work left--because Denis was only paying them $1,200 of the $3,710 I was charged.
Before they started, I had to personally explain how to mix the product correctly (since it was clear Denis wasn't managing his crew properly). I even provided measuring buckets and mixing stations so they couldn't screw it up.
And yet, they still did.
The second pour took 20 bags. Denis sent me photos and immediately demanded the final $710--plus an extra $500. I told him no payment until I saw the floor.
When I arrived, it was another disaster.
Pinholes everywhere from trapped air bubbles.
Still uneven.
Still discolored.
And to top it off, his crew dumped the leftover concrete behind some trash cans, trying to hide it. Now I have to clean that up too.
Denis acted like everything was fine and demanded payment. I laughed and told him I expected a partial refund for this mess.
Now, I Have to:
Rent a truck, rent tools, and spend 16+ hours grinding and patching this nightmare.
Buy epoxy and paint just to salvage the floor.
Eat the cost of this entire disaster.
Final Cost of This Nightmare:
$3,000 paid to Denis for garbage work.
$1,000 for the first failed pour.
$1,000 for the second failed pour.
Extra costs: Truck rental, tool rental, epoxy, paint, labor.
Business opening delayed by over a week.
Final Verdict:
Denis is incompetent, unprepared, and reckless. His crew cut corners, botched every step, and tried to cover it up. He pressured me for payment at every stage and refused to take responsibility for a completely failed job.
I'm out thousands of dollars and weeks of time because of him.
Hire Denis if you want to pay top dollar for absolute garbage. Otherwise, run. read more